The day began with a characteristically damp drive up to Witham, complete with Paul Johnson growing increasingly irate at an unnamed driver who appeared determined to occupy the right‑hand lane as though it were some sort of hereditary privilege. Spirits, however, remained high as the lads arrived ready for battle.

Pre‑match, the usual ritual team talk commenced. Ryan Lee delivered his trademark mix of calm authority, optimism and motivational wisdom to get everyone switched on. Warhorse Johnson then stepped forward, reminding the squad, rather pointedly, that a sharper start and a bit more aggression from the first whistle would be crucial. The message was clear: set the tone early.

To their credit, Havering took that to heart. They moved the ball quickly, held most of the possession and dictated the tempo. Unfortunately, for all the good play, clear‑cut chances remained elusive. Haydn Joslin provided the main threat of the half, unleashing a couple of decent reverse‑stick shots, but neither were enough to seriously trouble the scoreboard.

Then came the moment that shifted the mood. Midway through the first half, Harry ‘Redbridge’ Pardon was forced off after a Witham player thundered the ball straight into his hand, shattering his finger. A grim and deeply unlucky way to end his afternoon. The whole squad sends best wishes for a speedy recovery, Pardon will no doubt be back swinging soon.

At half‑time, Havering opted for a tactical reshuffle. Old Johnson was pushed from defence into midfield to give the side more presence and punch in the central areas. The move paid instant dividends, freeing up Lee to make several marauding runs from his temporary centre‑back role into the D, one of which won Havering their first short corner of the match.

The second half, however, descended into a carnival of questionable officiating. The Witham umpire, apparently experiencing intermittent bouts of impaired vision, began dishing out some bewildering decisions. The standout incident came when Ollie Johnson burst clean through on goal, only to be clattered by the Witham goalkeeper in what looked like as clear a foul as you’re ever likely to see. Every spectator, player, and possibly even the local wildlife witnessed it… except the umpires, who somehow awarded the decision the other way.

Alistair Lewis approached to calmly point out the obvious error, only for the umpire to seize the opportunity to make himself the main character, brandishing a green card with the flourish of a man who had practised that moment in the mirror.

Havering’s best opportunity to win the game arrived via Lucas Afteni after a perfectly crafted short‑corner routine. The ball trickled invitingly towards goal and, in a moment that will haunt him for weeks, Lucas opted for a delicate nudge rather than sweeping the ball into the back of the net. The result? A gentle push onto the post and away. From that range, it genuinely looked harder to miss than to score. A golden chance gone begging.

Man of the Match Raff Evans worked tirelessly throughout, constantly trying to unlock the Witham defence and injecting energy whenever the tempo dipped. Despite his best efforts, and Havering’s dominance of possession, the game ultimately fizzled out into a frustrating 0–0 stalemate.

Still, the performance showed plenty of positives - control, structure, and resilience. With a week break ahead, Havering will look to regroup, sharpen up in the final third, and return determined to seal a win to finish the season in good form.